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CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1       Background to the Study

The Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is caused by the human imunedeficiency virus (HIV), which destroys the cells in the body that combats infections. Although, recent medical advances have caused a shift from the mindset of a terminal disease to one of a chronic manageable conditions in some areas of the world. This new approach brings challenges of its own, as the disease is eventually fatal (Forri et al, 1997).

HIV has brought about a global epidemic far more extensive than what was predicted even a decade ago. The issue of HIV/AIDS is not only relevant to medical documentation, but is complex and highly politically charged, affecting all communities regardless of race, age or sexual orientation (Ginsberg, 1995). At the end of the year 2000, it was estimated that there were 36.1 million adults and children living with HIV/AIDS, the vast majority of whom live in the developing world, with more than twenty five million living in the continent of Africa (Global Summary of the HIV/AIDS Epidemic, 2000 and 2001).

Care givers to HIV/AIDS patients need to be highly trained so as to effectively give succour to those who are stigmatized as a result of the contraction of the disease (HIV/AIDS). According to Adams, formal care giving services for the elderly and the diseased individuals are those services bureaucratically provided by non familial and non-informal social systems. Although, families provide majority of care scourge of HIV/AIDS disease and other aliments, formal services also exists in order to support those living with the dreaded disease. Individuals offering care-giving services need to be exposed to training through constant attendance of seminars, workshops, orientation and in-service programmes. These programmes should also be given to other individuals who are not infected with HIV/AIDS so as to prevent the contraction of the disease and to avoid its spreads in the society.

The World Heath Organisation has a set a goal for all Nation’s Heath for all by the year 2000 and the Nigerian health sector has adopted this slogan in the last decade. However, some of the major constraints facing Nigeria include poverty, inadequate human resources, inadequate personnel in the medical sector (the few are concentrated in the cities) illiteracy, poor funding of the health sector (less than 20% of the Gross National Product GNP), and finally lack of information and research into the state of the nation’s health (Ogunba, 2002).

In order to have sustained progress towards our dream or “Health for all by the year 2000”, the health needs for the nation must as a matter of urgency, include some of the following:

Collection of reliable epidemiological data for all the important endemic diseases, especially, the dreaded HIV/AIDS disease, in our country, as well as research inputs into our heath delivery systems so as to determine:

Effectiveness, efficiency, efficacy and cost effectiveness of our efforts at all costs; New tools, methods and management strategies and acceptabilities by the rural people of our concepts and vision for improved and modern medical care; Behaviours, attitudes and environmental factors that may enhance or mar introduction of modern medical concepts into the background of long-time relationship and confidence in the “traditional healers and native doctors”.

The initial outlay for conducting the studies mentioned above may appear high but such data would become rewarding in the long run and make the health delivery service more reliable and cost effective. The tropical developing environment encourages the rapid spread of disease, especially HIV/AIDS, mostly in the rural illiterate setting. It is therefore, mandatory to have mass medical/health education incorporating literacy classes coupled with the production of potable drinking water that will control common preventable diseases such as guinea-worm infection, schistosomiasis, amaebiasis and soil-transmitted helminth infections. These account for 40% of our hospital admissions/attendance and constitute a severe drain on our national health status and economy (Akintayo, 1990).

Idabawa (2002) states that HIV/AIDS is one of the greatest unresolved challenges of our time, threatening the life thread of the entire human race. It has the propensity to wipe out decades of progress and development of affected nation. It has devastating effects on world economy as all countries of the world are directly or indirectly affected. HIV/AIDS thrives on and accelerates poverty, destroys good health and affects education negatively. It also retards the political climate of affected nations, and seriously reduces life expectancy, in the year 2002, about 5 million people were infected with HIV. About 42 million people in the world are living with the virus. From this frightening number, 3.6 million are Nigerians. Over 20 million people have died from AIDS since the first case was diagnosed and 1.7 million were Nigerians.

The statistics is both frightening and overwhelming, for example, though the first case of the virus diagnosed in Nigeria was in 1986, statistics shows increasing cases of the scourge. It has continued to spread steadily from 1.8% in 1998, to 3.8% in 1994, 4.55 in 1999 and 5.8% in 2001. A very high prevalence of 6.8% is found among 15 – 49 age group. This is very alarming as this group is about half of the country’s population reproductive workforce. Nigeria, having crossed the threshold of 5% which is the potential stage of the endemic, is at the crossroads and must take serious and urgent actions to stem the pandemic.

According to Omolewa (1990) caregivers on HIV/AIDS are important role models and they should be aware of this. They require training and support to meet the demands within and outside the country. The nature of HIV/AIDS education makes it mandatory for training need to go beyond basic awareness, training to include establishing relevant and appropriate codes of practice and ethics of the profession. It includes reviewing personal attitudes to ensure that what is taught is what is practiced as caregivers and trainers must live by examples. The caregivers must also acquire specific skills for teaching or imparting the knowledge about the nature of HIV/AIDS and how not to contract it, especially, as such skills are expected to ensure behavioural change.

Specialized teacher education and training to cater for the peculiar needs of HIV/AIDS education poses another challenge in the fight against the HIV/AIDS endemic. Training teachers or the caregivers for HIV/AIDS education, means training virtually all the teachers and caregivers, which is not a mean feat. Capacity building for HIV/AIDS education means colossal expenditure on men and materials. This requires support the caregivers must be well prepared and must be supported in the social work on HIV/AIDS through pre-service and in-service education and training (Kelly, 2000).

Pre-service and in-service education and training/retraining are very important in the delivery of risk education for HIV/AIDS patients. This will ensure that new resources, knowledge and even approaches are considered from time to time and updated. Moreover, new approaches like enquiry-based, rights-based and gender sensitive education which are known to work very well are integrated in their training. Many of these approaches encourage active participation and skills development (Achizie, 2001).

According to Njinja (2001) in every activity, initiative or intervention, resources are needed. Implementation cannot take place in a vacuum. Resources include: human, materials and financial. Human resources in the fight against HIV/AIDS through education include professionally trained HIV/AIDS educators, policy makers, Naval personnel, administrators, social workers and mobilizes, media personnel, community teachers, parents, teachers and partners/stakeholders. Material resources include all teaching and learning materials, curriculum, supplementary texts etc. Financial resources entails funding required for the training of personnel and production of materials. They also need research, monitoring and evaluation.

1.2        Statement of the Problem

A lot of work has been done about Aids especially in terms of prevention and finding a cure, non governmental organization and governmental organization have put so much financial human materials resources in the war against Aids inspite of this the disease has continued to spread at an alarming rate and Africa countries recorded the greatest number of HIV infections and death. The United Nation (UN) estimated that 34.3 million in the world have Aids more than 50% higher than what the world health organization global programme projected in 2002 with 24.3 million of them in sub-Saharan Africa Sampont, 2008

Everyone is vulnerable to HIV/AIDS infections but it has been observed that adolescent and student are more vulnerable, this is true in most developed and under developed countries from a substantial point of view today University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos state are under greater peril of HIV/AIDS, STDs and Aids control agency estimate that more than 60% of new cases of HIV/AIDS infections occurs in student between the age bracket of 13-17 years, this is because University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos state are becoming sexually active and having multiple sexual partners and their vulnerable misconception about course and consequence of the risk severity of  the disease. Another issue to be considered is that parents shy away from educating their children sexually, and this type of education may not be in school curriculum which makes most students at risk as a result of ignorance? Not only this many affluent and poor young students with insufficient parental nurture and guidance because parent spend most of their time for mix of survival.

Some College of Education Student lack adequate and proper knowledge about this disease and their own development and its implication through the lack of awareness about protective and provisional health and how to utilize this service and this is attributed to the medical institutional effect today in Nigeria and turn lead to considerable negative aspect such as socio-economic on the students, family and society at large. This implies that if there is awareness and knowledge of consequence of HIV/AIDS among Lagos state University students the high prevalent could be reduces and students will embrace preventive behavioural change since the Lagos state university students have the right to speak specifically in this HIV/AIDS era. The above problem stated necessitated the researcher to set about the project with view to correct e.g. the problem in University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos state as the focus point.

1.3           Purpose of the Study

This study examined the level of awareness of HIV/AIDS among undergraduates in University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos state. The specific purposes of the study include:

1. to ascertain the level of knowledge on causes of HIV/AIDS among students in University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos state
2. to identify the level of knowledge on the behaviour that leads to high risk of HIV/AIDS infection among students in University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos state
3. to ascertain the level of knowledge on the signs and symptoms of HIV/AIDS among students in University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos state.
4. to identify the level of knowledge of preventive measures used in reducing HIV/AIDS among students in University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos state.

1.4        Research Questions

The following research questions were raised to guide the investigation.

1. What is the knowledge level of HIV/AIDS among students in University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos state on the causes of HIV/AIDS?
2. What is the knowledge level of HIV/AIDS among students in University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos state on the behaviours that lead to high risk of HIV/AIDS infections?
3. What is the knowledge level of HIV/AIDS among students in University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos state on the signs and symptoms of HIV/AIDS?
4. What is the knowledge level of HIV/AIDS among students in University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos state on the preventive measures to be used to reduce HIV/AIDS infection?

1.5       Research Hypotheses

The following null hypotheses were formulated and tested to guide the study.

1. There is no significant difference on the knowledge level of the causes of HIV/AIDS among male and female students in University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos state.
2. There is no significant difference on the knowledge level of behaviours that lead to high risk of HIV/AIDS infections among male and female students in University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos state.
3. There is no significant difference on the knowledge level of the signs and symptoms of HIV/AIDS among students in University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos state.
4. There is no significant difference on the knowledge level on preventive measures to reduce HIV/AIDS among students in University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos state.

 

1.6          Significance of the Study

The HIV/AIDS scourge has grown to such a magnitude that it is now a global problem. It is hoped that this study will motivate the students especially in University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos state, their parents, guardians and the general public towards behavioural changes that will prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS. It will also alert them to the existence of the dreaded disease. The study will also create the sense of awareness necessary for guarding students from being victims of the disease.

The information gathered will be useful to students as well as lecturers, healthcare providers in schools and colleges, health educators and social workers. The findings will help the students, health workers and social workers to come up with strategies through which they can combat the disease through health promotion and education.

The findings derived from this study will be of tremendous help to the state and local government officials in providing appropriate seminars and conferences for health workers and take counselling measures to be used for people living with HIV/AIDS.